Piano-action



(IodeL) R. E. LETTON. Piano Action.

No..237,l14. Patented Feb. 1,1881.

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N-PUERS, FHflTO-UTHOGRAPHER, WASHINGTON D UNITED STATES PATENT OEErcE.

RAPHAEL E. LETTON, OF QUINCY, ILLINOIS.

PIANO-ACTION.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 237,114:, dated February 1, 1881.

Application filed May 24, 1880.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, RAPHAEL E. LETTON, of the city of Quincy, of the county of Adams, and the State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Improvement in the Action of Pianos, whereby the action of the upright is so modified as not to require the use of either a displacingjack, hammerknuckle, elastic tape, and back-check, of which the following; is a full and exact specification, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings.

This invention relates to an improvement in the action of pianos, and applicable by modification to either grand or square-in this instance is described as adapted to the upright piano.

The action consists, essentially, of the key A, the liftingstem B, horizontal arm 0, oscillating arm on or, spring 0, regulating-screw and button g, thong-guide 0, rest-rail H, hammer-butt J, cushioned slot R, elastic stay (I, as represented in the accompanying drawings, and hereinafter more specifically described.

Figure 1 is a vertical side view of a device embodying the elements of this invention, showing the action at rest; Fig. 2, a similar view, showing the position of the action when the key is pressed, at the moment the hammer is brought in contact with the strings S; Fig. 3, a similar view, showing the position of the hammer at rest after the rebound,while the key is still pressed; Fig. 4, a front view of oscillating arm on a; Fig. 5, a view of the hammer-butt J, containing the slot R, with the bushing and elastic stay.

In the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 represents an upright action, consisting of the usual manual-key, A, with lifting-stem B supporting the horizontal arm 0, the upper surface of the arm 0 having a tenon, to which is mortised and pivoted the oscillating arm at n. The vertical vibrations of the arm 0 are regulated by the screw and button g upon the upper surface of the arm 0, and at the rear of the arm in n is placed the thong-guide 0, carrying the thong of the spring 6. The hammer K has the butt J cut transversely, forming the slot R, the aperture of the slot being closed by means of the stay cl.

Fig. 5 is a full-size view of the hammerbutt J, having the sides and roof of the slot R cushioned. The aperture in the base of the (Model.)

slot R is closed by an elastic stay, (I, made of leather or other soft material. The stay holds the axis of the arm at n securely in the slot R, and when released it falls and draws the hammer down with it. The slot is so formed that it will allow a certain amount of play to the axis between the stay and the roof of the slot, whereby, after a concussion of the string is made, such a return of the hammer is secured as will give to the string a free singing quality of tone.

Fig. 4 is a front view of the oscillating arm in n, the upper portion made of wire, m, the point so bent as to form the axis, the lower end of the wire tapped with a screw piercing the pivot-block 12, whereby the length of the arm or n can be regulated. The pivot-block is made of wood, having a hole bored from front to rear, through which the thong 0f the spring 6 passes to the hitch-pin or regulatingscrew. The base of the block is cut by amortise and pivoted to the arm (3.

0 is the thong-guide, made of spring-wire, the top so bent as to form an eyelet or guide to the thong of the spring 0, the strain coming at the top of the guide 0, forming a fulcrum-power that quickens the fall of the action. The guide, also following the hammer in its ascending and descending motion, imparts to the spring an even tension in all conditions of the action.

6 is a spring pendant to the hammer-butt J near the slot 1%, the lower end fastened by a thong,which, passing through the eyelet of the guide 0, thence through the block a, is attached to the hitch-pin. The design of the spring is twofold: first, to prevent a rebound of the hammer against the string S; second, to give an elastic pressure of the axis of the arm m n against the rear surface of the slot R.

f is a horizontal rail secured above the front end of the arm 0, and pierced by the regulating-screw g, for the purpose of stopping at a given point the upward course of the arms 0 and m n. The object thus gained by the screw is to free the hammer from the action below, allowing the momentum of the hammer to carry it on, making a free blow against the strings.

The operation of the above mechanism may be thus described: A certain key is struck,

elevating the arms 0 and ma, forcing the axis of the arm m n against the hammer-butt J, thereby driving the hammer toward the string S. Ata given point it is disconnected from the action below by the regulating-button g, blocking the upward motion of the arm 0. The hammer now having free play by means of the slot R, the momentum carries it on to make the blow against the strings and it then returns to rest unincumbered.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure to me by Letters Patent, is-

1. The elastic stay arranged to cover the aperture in the base of the slot R in the hammer-butt J, in combination with the axis of the arm m n, as herein described, and for the purpose described.

2. The oscillating arm m n, pivoted to the arm 0, and having upon its upper end an axis,

CHAS. N. LETTON, SIMON B. WYOKOFF. 

